Tie Harbor Point tax break to jobs for city residents

June 06, 2013

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake justifies over $100 million in taxpayer-funded property tax subsidies for the developers of Harbor Point on the grounds that the development will bring jobs to Baltimore ("Mayor: Project means jobs," June 4). But if those employees don't live in the city, the outcome will leave city taxpayers out $100 million, living with the traffic and congestion as employees drive to work and the county enjoys the income tax revenue.

Here's a modest suggestion: Tie developer property tax subsidies to the number of those employed in the development who pay income taxes as Baltimore City residents but did not file as city residents the previous year. Only then will city taxpayers know we are getting the new jobs developers promised in return for the subsidies we underwrite.